Nursing bottle nipple and shield therefor



y 1953 J. KRONISH 2,638,094

NURSING BOTTLE NIPPLE AND SHIELD THEREFOR Original Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTOR.

. JOSEPH zea/v/sfl i :1- E. B;

Nam/7 Lthispassage is sealed off Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,-

NURSING BOTTLE NIPPLE AND SHIELD THEREFOR Joseph Kronish, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Original application January 11, 1947, Serial No.

721,607, now Patent No, 2,579,194, dated December 18, 1951. Divided and this application December 13, 1951, Serial No. 261,469

My present invention relates generally to niples for nursing bottles, and has particular reference to'an improved combination of a nipple and shield.

Thisapplication is a division of my earlierthe mammilla of the nipple. If the shield and nipple are sterilized apart from the bottle, the shield is associated with the nipple not only during sterilization but remains protectively on the nipple after sterilization and during and after the application of the sterilized nipple to the bottle, until such time as the infant is to be fed. Similarly, if the, so-called terminal sterilization procedure is followed, whereby the nipple is first placed on the bottle and then the bottle, the formula in it the nipple and the shield are all sterilized at one time, the shield is on the nipple during sterilization and remains protectively on thenipple after sterilization until feeding' time.

In accordancewith my invention the nipple,

and shield are designed so that the shield, while in engagement with'the nipple, may be selectively adjusted into either a partially applied position or a more fully applied position, and so that in the partially applied position a sterilizing passage leads through the shield into the space between the mammilla and shield while in the more fully applied position of the shield- The present application is specifically directed 'to one way of achieving this result, viz., by means of an opening in the shield which lies in its entirety in such a location, relative to the nipple rim with which the shield is in engagement, that in one position of the shield the opening overlies "such rim and is obstructed thereby while in the 6 Claims. (01.1 128252) thinner and more flexible invention, showing the parts in the relationship they assume during the sterilizing procedure; i

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the shield in sealing position and the nipple in association with a nursing bottle;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the parts in the same relationship as in Figure 2, with the shield broken away to reveal the nipple in elevation;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and V 1 Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively, illustrating a modification.

Referring to Figures LA, the nipple 9 is of well-known kind, preferably made of rubber or its equivalent. At its rear it has an annular attachment rim 8 provided with internal screw threads 7 by means of which the nipple may be secured to the correspondingly threaded mouth 2 of a nursing bottle I. The nipple isprovided at its forward end with the conventional mammilla, 5 pierced by one or more apertures. The mammilla is of lesser diameter than the attachment rim 8, as shown, and may alsobe of quality, as is well known. 1 1 i The shield I0 is composed of relativelyrigid material such as aluminum or other suitable metal, glass, or plastic or the like. It has a cupshaped part I9 enclosing the mammilla, and a rear annular sleeve 38 adapted to engage with the attachment rim 8 of the nipple. In the embodiment illustrated, this engagement is of a screw-threaded character, the rim 8 being provided with external screw-thread projections 50 (Figure 3) and the sleeve 38 having complementary internal threads or projections.

The rim 8 of the nipple is of appreciable axial extent, and the sleeve 38 of the shield is of comarable extent. Accordingly, when the sleeve is engaged with the nipple rim it is axially movable with respect to the rim while remaining in engagement therewith. It may in fact be adjusted selectively into either of two axially displaced positions relative to the rim, one of these positions being the partially applied position of the shield shown in Figure 1, the other bein the more fully applied position of the shield shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In accordance with the present invention, the sleeve 38 is provided with at least one sterilizing opening located in its entirety in a region spaced from the edge of the sleeve. There are preferably two or more openings or slots 32, as best shown in Figure 4. They are preferably extended eircumferentially and arranged at equal ciroumferential spacing from each other. They all lie substantially the same distance in from the edge of the sleeve 38, viz., at the inner end of the sleeve, closely adjacent to the line along which the sleeve merges into the cup-shaped part 19 of" the shield. In this region of the shield, on its inside surface, it is provided with an annular projection or shoulder it which bears down against the inner end of thezattachment rim. 8 when the shield is in the closed position shown inFigures 2 and 3.

When the nipple is to be sterilized the shield l and nipple 9 are assembled prior to immersion in the sterilizing medium (usually steam or boiling water), by placing, the: shield into the partial engagement with the nipple. asshown in Figure 1. In this position the openings. 32 lie axially offset from the attachment rim '8 thereby affordin free passage for the sterilizing medium inwardly through the opening or openings 3-2 into'thespace surroundingthe mammilla of the ripple. "Obviously; the sterilizing medium also reaches the interior surfaces of the nipple through the rear end of thenipple. While the parts are in-this sterilizing position they remain -in association with each other and canbe freely handled as a unit.

When sterilization has been completed, thepar tially nested-nipple and shield can be removed from the sterilizer or sterilizing bath by graspingonly'the shield, thus leaving the nipple suria-oessterilez Theassembly may'then-be set aside, or may beimmediately applied to a sterilized and fillednursing-bottle. In the construction shown i n Figures 1-4 the attachment of the nipple to the bottle i'saccomplished by screwing the nipple onto 'thethreaded mouth oi'th-ebottle. This may readily be done without separating the shield f'rom the nipple;

"thealternative, if the procedure known as term-inalsterilizat'ion is followed, the nipple and shield are first applied to the formula-'illled bottle, adjusted into the partial engagement shown in Figure i, and the entire assembly is then subjected to sterilizing temperatures. For example, thebottle-may be stood in-boiling'water 1 covered container; The steam generatedby the-formulasterilizegthe interior" surfaces of the nipple, whilethe externarsurfaces are subjected to -the sterilizing effect of the steam whichpasses inwardly through the shield-openings Mintojthe space surrounding the mammilla of the nipple. 'Whemsterllization has'been'completed', the shield is adjusted into the sealing position shown in Figures 2" and' 3' until feeding time, when its complete removal exposes the nipple in sterile and imosrita-minated; state.

Regardless of which sterilizing procedure is followed, it will be observed that in. the sealing position ofFiguresZand 3-the proj'ection'l't abuts again-st the end of the attachment rim it. and theopenings- 32 overlie and are thus obstructed and sealedmr by'the rim 8. The mammilla of 'theanipple isthus enclosed in an air-tight manner arrd since. the parts are so designed that the oi the: shield simultaneously abuts the end oi: the mammilla and-seals off the aperture in'it, the bottle may safely be left in this sealed condition .ionany length of time without danger of exposing the-.sterilized nipple or the content-of thehottle to the atmosphere and without danger ofilealeage; or the content of the. bottle.

In the embodiment shown inflEigures: 51 and '6', theflnippleisassociatedwith the bottle in. a difsigned to =fitfrictionall'y over ibottle' bead 42, as shown in'Figure' 6. To'in'creasethe yieldability and resilience of the nipple rim 48 an annular relieving groove 49 may be provided on the exterior oil therim.

As will be noted, the exterior of the rim 48 is:

unthreaded, and the interior of the shield sleeve 38" isof complementary size and contour so that a snug frictional. interengagement results. As before, thernipplerrim is of appreciable axial ex- 'tent,and .thesleeve-of the shield is of comparable extentpwhereby the. latter may be adjusted axially on the. rim and also remain continuously in engagement with the latter.

In other respects the nipple and shield of Figures 5 and- 6 are the same as' inFig-ures 1-4,,

. and for this reason the-samereierence' numerals have been applied to the-mammillah, the internal shoulder IS on the shield, and thesterilizing openings 32. As in Figures 1-4, these openings are set back from the edge ofthe sleeve 3'8 and lie forwardly of the nipple rim win the pa-rtially applied position of the shield (Figure 5) and are obstructed bythe rim the moreiull-y applied position ofthe shield (Figure- 6.). 1

In the sterilizing relationship of parts (Figure 5) the sterilizing medium has free-access to the interior of the-shield, through-openings After sterilization, if performed apart froin the bottle, the nipple-shield assembly is handled onlyzby the shield, and the nipple may be applied to the bottle. Ell by pressing it down over-the beaddz', the rim is expanding momentarily during this procedure. As hereinbefore pointed' out, an atternative sterilizing proeeiiureinvolves first' filling the bottle with the-formula, applying the nipple and the shield" and adjusting them into "the sterilizing relationship- (Figure 5), and then.

sterilizing theentire unit.

In the sealing relationship of 'parts- (Figure 6) ie sterilizing openings '32 are sealed off by the rim we, and the shoulder f6 and shield end press down on the nipple rim and mammillatip-re spectively to establish a protective andair-tight :enclosureior the nipple. When .the'bottleis to beaused. to feed the 'babyythe shieldis eompletelv withdrawn; from the nipple.

It will, be understood "that the details herein describedand illustrated may obviously be modilfied' -in a number'ofirespeots without necessarily departingifrom the spirit; andscopeoi the inven: .tion as expressed in the ,appendedrelaims.

Having thusv described my invention;:.-and illusitrated its use, what I cla-imyas new -and:desire to. secure by Letters :Patentis:

1. The combination with a nursingbottlelnipple having an .apertured .mammillaand an. at..- tachment. rim, of. a shield having a portion enclosing said. mammilla anda sleevelremovably engageable with said .ri'm, said-.rim. being ,of,.appreciabl'e axial. extent, said". sleeve being of. com.- parableaxial' extent. and 'being axially movable with-respect to said'rim while remaining in engagement therewith, said sleeve being selectively adjustable intoeither of two axially displaced positions relative to said rim,sa-id sleeve having an openingtherethrough located in -i ts"eritirety in: a region l spaced "from the edge of "the sleeve, saidlropen'ing overlying said rim: and being "obstructed thereby when thesleeve-is'ih one of said positions, said opening lying axially ofiset from said rim when the sleeve is in the other of said positions, said opening in the last-mentioned position of the sleeve afiording passage for a sterilizing medium inwardly therethrough into the space surrounding said mammilla.

In a combination nursing bottle nipple and shield, the structure defined in claim 1, said opening extending in a generally circumferential direction.

3. In a combination nursing bottle nipple and shield, the structure defined in claim 1, there being at least two of said openings arranged in circumferentially spaced relation, all lying at substantially the same distance from the edge of the sleeve.

4. In acornbination nursing bottle nipple and shield, the structure defined in claim 1, the engagement between the sleeve and rim and the adjustability of the sleeve on the rim being afforded by complementary screw-thread elements formed on the sleeve and rim.

5. The combination with a nursing bottle nipple having a forward apertured mammilla and a rear attachment rim, said mammilla being of lesser diameter than the rim, of a shield having a forward part enclosing said mammilla and a rear sleeve removaly applicable to said rim, said sleeve and rim being provided with complementary screw-thread parts so that by a screwing and unscrewing of the sleeve the shield may be selectively set into either a partially applied or a more fully applied position relative to said rim, said sleeve being provided with at least one opening therethrough which lies in its entirety forwardly of the rim in the partially applied position of the shield and which is obstructed by the rim in the more fully applied position of the shield, said opening establishing a scalable sterilizing passage through the shield t the space between the shield and the mammilla enclosed thereby.

6. For use with a nursing bottle nipple having a forward apertured mammilla and a rear rim for attachment of the nipple to a nursing bottle, a nipple shield including a sleeve applicable into engagement with said nipple rim and provided with at least one circumferentially extended sterilizing opening lying at an appreciable distance forwardly of the rear edge of said sleeve so that said opening may be positioned forwardly of the nipple rim without completely disengaging the sleeve from said rim.

JOSEPH KRONISH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED s'rrrrns PATENTS Number Name Date 1,018,831 Ladley Feb. 27, 1912 2,204,683 Lambert June 18, 1940 2,531,010 Busch Oct. 9, 1951 

